Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-25-BO Stratotanker near Norton AFB: 14 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-2654
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Altus – March
MSN:
16685
YOM:
1952
Location:
Norton AFB (San Bernardino)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Altus, Oklahoma, to the March AFB located southeast of Riverside, California. While approaching March AFB, the crew was informed by ATC about poor weather at destination and was then vectored to Norton AFB in San Bernardino. While cruising by night at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Box Springs located between the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Larson AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-7272
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43724
YOM:
1951
Location:
Larson AFB
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Larson AFB. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Atlanta

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N51359
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Atlanta – Chattanooga – Knoxville – Cincinnati – Chicago
MSN:
13759
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
DL134X
Location:
Atlanta-William Berry Hartsfield
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6014
Captain / Total hours on type:
4575.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6803
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6800
Aircraft flight hours:
18827
Circumstances:
As the aircraft became airborne the landing gear was retracted. Light rain was encountered at this time. When the air-craft had climbed to 200 to 250 feet, power was reduced to 35 inches of manifold pressure and a shallow right turn was begun. Before a reduction in r.p.m. was made the aircraft began to settle and the airspeed was observed to decrease rapidly from above 105 to 80 knots. The nose was immediately lowered to level flight, & the turn stopped, and full power applied. When this was done, the air-speed returned to about 100 knots and the settling appeared to lessen considerably. The increased airspeed with the attendant better flying characteristics was monetary, however, as the airspeed abruptly dropped to 60 knots and the airplane again began to settle. As the aircraft continued to settle and it became obvious that it was going to strike the ground, the first officer attempted to raise tile nose. Upon feeling the aircraft strike the ground, both throttles were closed. The aircraft then skidded to a stop in a wooded area approximately 600 feet north-west of the far end of runway 21. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a rapid loss of airspeed immediately following takeoff caused by unexpected, strong gusts or divergent winds accompanying a local rain shower. The following findings were reported:
- At the time of takeoff a large thunderstorm was 8 to 10 miles south of the airport and a local rain shower was approaching the southeast end of runway,
- The aircraft took off from runway 21 and climbed to approximately 200 to 250 feet,
- A portion of the rain shower was encountered which contained strong gusts,
- While in the rain shower the aircraft lost airspeed and settled to the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-1-DO Skymaster in Gage

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Great Lakes Airlines (1950)
Registration:
N30070
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York –Chicago – Kansas City – Burbank
MSN:
35931
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
GLA146
Location:
Gage
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
79
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2750.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
200
Aircraft flight hours:
21923
Circumstances:
While cruising by night at an altitude of 5,500 feet in good weather conditions, the engine number three caught fire. The crew feathered the propeller and received the permission to divert to Gage municipal Airport for an emergency landing. Following a normal landing, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 82 occupants were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was a bearing failure of the No. 3 engine generator causing extreme frictional heat and the release of inflammable fluid which ignited in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-6 Neptune in Sinking Springs

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
126516
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Sinking Springs
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the engine lost power and the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a field in Sinking Springs and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine power loss.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar near Beulaville: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5904
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Seymour Johnson - Seymour Johnson
MSN:
11071
YOM:
1952
Location:
Beulaville
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While conducting a training mission, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a prairie located about six miles northwest of Beulaville. Two other crew members were killed.

Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119J Flying Boxcar near Santa Clarita: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8153
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Williams - Burbank
MSN:
156
YOM:
1952
Location:
Santa Clarita
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Williams AFB, Arizona, the crew started the approach to Burbank Airport from the north when he encountered foggy conditions. The aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Mission Point (2,771 feet high) located about five miles south of Santa Clarita. All seven crew members were killed.

Ground accident of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119J Flying Boxcar in Birmingham

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8133
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Birmingham - Birmingham
MSN:
136
YOM:
1952
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (engineers and technicians) were performing ground test following technical modifications. While taxiing, the airplane went out of control, veered off taxiway and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119F-FA Flying Boxcar at Pope AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-2679
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pope – Godman
MSN:
10668
YOM:
1951
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pope AFB, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on the mess hall at Fort Bragg. Two crew members and five officers on the ground were killed while nine other people were injured among them four crew members.
Those killed were:
1st Lt Albert W. Parks, pilot,
A1c Rudolph Valentino Short,
Cpl Robert Dervan,
Cpl Donald F. Greenlee,
Pvt James A. Macre,
Cpl Osman S. Palmer.
Those injured were:
Cwo William Angeloff,
1st Lt Raymond Fitzsimmons, copilot,
Pvt Ralph E. Salisbury,
A1c Eugene R. Snyder,
Sgt Henry C. Clay,
Pfc William Cook,
Pfc Edward Ellison,
Edward A. Ross,
Cpt Charles L. Shirley.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas B-23 Dragon at Akron-Canton

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-23 Dragon
Operator:
Pacific Lumber Company
Registration:
N67000
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2734
YOM:
1940
Location:
Akron-Canton
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to runway 36 at Akron-Canton Airport, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems with the undercarriage. In accordance with ATC, he completed a low pass over the runway and passed just in front of the control tower before making a turn to the left to join the approach circuit. On short final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames about 300 yards short of runway threshold. All six occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Final Report:
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